I have come to a place where every light is silenced,

Io venni in luogo d'ogni luce muto

Which roars just as the sea roars in a storm,

che muggia come fa mar per tempesta,

When is beaten by conflicting winds,

se da contrari venti č combattuto.

The infernal gale, which blows and never pauses,

La bufera infernal, che mai non resta,

Directs the spirits which it carries before it;

mena li spiriti con la sua rapina:

Harrassing them with turning and buffeting.

voltando e percotendo li molesta.

When they arrive at the threshold of this ruin,

Quando giugon davanti alla ruina,

There, there are cries, complaints and lamentations;

quivi li strida, il compianto, il lamento;

 And there, they blaspheme against the divine power.

bestemmiam quivi la virtú divina.

I understood it is to this torment

Intesi che a cosí fatto tormento

That are condemned those who sin in the flesh,

enno danati i peccator carnali,

And let their reason give way to their wishes.

che la ragion sommetono al talento.

Illustrations by Gustave Doré.

[Previous page] [Next page]